ABOUT THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Artistic Director Javier Dzul grew up in the jungles of southern Mexico performing Mayan ritual dance until the age of 16. Formal dance training began at the Universidad de Veracruz at which time he also became a principal dancer with Ballet Nacional de Mexico and Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. Javier then received a scholarship to study at Ballet Nacional de Cuba where he remained until 1989. In 1989 Javier was awarded another scholarship by Martha Graham to study at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Since his arrival in New York Javier has worked with numerous dance companies. He performed primarily with the Martha Graham Dance Company, Pearl Lang Dance Theater, Battery Dance Company, Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, American Indian Dance Theater. He has performed as a guest artist with Acroback and Red Sky Productions (Canada). In 1995 Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (FONCA) of Mexico awarded Javier a scholarship to pursue his dance career in the United States. Javier began choreographing and performing his own work in 1999. He established Dzul Dance in 2003.

In 2009 Javier became the founder and director of Compania de Danza Contemporanea y Aerea del Gobierno del Estado de Campeche; a dance and aerial company funded by Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (CONACULTA) of Mexico and the Government of Campeche. That same year the government of Campeche (Yucatan) awarded Javier el Premio de San Fransisco, an outstanding lifetime achievement award, for raising international awareness about Mayan culture.

Javier and his company have been featured by National Public Radio, Univision’s Despierta America, American Latino, Bloomberg TV, NY1 & CUNY TV. They can also be seen in photographer Acey Harper’s Private Acts: the acrobat sublime, published by Rizzoli in September 2010.